St. Paschal Baylon Adorning the Blessed Sacrament 1739 - 1819

Mariano Salvador de Maella created this drawing of St. Paschal Baylon in ink and wash. The sepia tones evoke a sense of reverence and contemplation. The composition spirals upwards towards a radiant light, guiding the viewer’s eye through a celestial ascent. Maella employs a dynamic interplay of light and shadow, heightening the dramatic tension within the scene. The structure underscores a hierarchy: angels cluster around the Eucharist at the top, and the saint kneels below in adoration. The figures seem suspended, which destabilizes our sense of earthly grounding. This effect is not just aesthetic but deeply theological. The drawing invites us to consider how spatial arrangements can reflect spiritual order. The radiating light defies clear boundaries, merging the earthly and the divine. Meaning is constructed through formal devices.